Bessie Buker Elementary

1 School Street
Wenham, MA 01984

www.hwschools.net

265 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Bessie Buker Elementary School is a public primary school located in Wenham, Massachusetts, serving students in grades Pre-K through 5. As part of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District, the school is recognized for its strong sense of community and commitment to fostering a supportive, student-centered learning environment. The curriculum emphasizes academic rigor in core subjects while integrating social-emotional learning to ensure the holistic development of every child.

Beyond its classroom instruction, Bessie Buker is known for its active parent-teacher involvement and a variety of enrichment opportunities that encourage student engagement. The school leverages its historic New England setting to create a welcoming atmosphere where collaboration between faculty, families, and the wider community is a priority. Through its focus on inclusivity and character development, the school aims to prepare its students for academic success while cultivating them as responsible, thoughtful members of their community.

265

Total Students

18.7

Full-Time Teachers

14.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Bessie Buker Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	214
Hispanic	29
Black	2
Asian	16
Two or More	4

White
214 (80.8 %)
Hispanic
29 (10.9 %)
Asian
16 (6.0 %)
Two or More
4 (1.5 %)
Black
2 (0.8 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Hamilton-Wenham
Phone:	(978)468-5324
Website:	http://www.hwschools.net
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	265
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	18.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.2
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 38

Grade 1 63

Grade 2 40

Grade 3 38

Grade 4 46

Grade 5 40